Mew amused itself by poking Aries at first, then when that grew tiresome it began fiddling with the intravenous fluid sacks hanging at his bedside. His breathing was normal if not a bit hitched at times, and his extremities were red and spotty with developing blisters from the three heaters warming up the room. At odd intervals his face would twist in pain from the re-warming process, which was when it moved closer and gently stroked his head and hand until he calmed down again.
'You must remember, Mew, that it was I who created all humans as living organisms and I who gave them autonomy; they are not to be coveted and captured and held like trinkets.'
It cringed, resting at his side. Arceus' words were true—painfully so—however it was not willing to part with Aries through a combination of greed and intrigue. He didn't seem to mind, but it was unable to read his mind and soul; humans could so easily lie to disguise their inner feelings. He could've been terrified of it and been pretending to like it out of fear of Mew's powers. It was not unlikely, but the thought of it had Mew's mind racing for any other possible circumstance.
The door opened them, eliciting a gasp from it as it hurried to make itself invisible. It had almost forgotten it could do that since it preferred to have its presence in Aries' life. A thin black-haired woman it instantly identified as Gym Leader Candice and a fair-haired doctor entered the room, the latter approaching Aries' side. Candice crossed her arms over her chest as the doctor—Dr. Alexander Ralph, Mew realized, tuning in to his mental wavelength; he also had three kids, a wife who had suspiciously adulterous actions, and a mother who leeched him of wherewithal—checked Aries' vitals and wrote his observations down on a clipboard.
"How's he doing, Dr. Ralph?" she asked, a thinly veiled note of tension in her voice. It was very understandable when she was the one that discovered Aries' freezing body outside of her Gym—all gratitude being owed to Mew, who stretched its physical limits in getting him there—and had to race him to Snowpoint City's only clinic before he died of hypothermia or lost his limbs due to frostbite. That, and because it could tell by checking Candice's mind that, unlike other Ice-type Gym Leaders, she was very emotionally attached.
"His health is still poor, but he's improved a lot since earlier," the doctor responded, straightening. "It was miraculous that he was found when he was; another five minutes and he would have had frostbite so severe he would've lost a limb. Though I am confused as to why a child was wandering in a blizzard unprepared like this…"
"Maybe he didn't see it coming."
"Anyone that lives here can easily tell when a blizzard's coming, Candice, and no visitors have arrived in a few months. It's a complete mystery where he came from."
"Hey doc, why don't we focus on the what instead of the how? Like, what to do with him? I'd like to keep him; it'd be fun to have him and Abomasnow," she mused.
"He's not a pet, Candice. His parents are probably very worried."
"Oh, right." She was more than a bit deflated. Dr. Ralph gave her an even look.
"You wanted to help here since there were no challengers at the Gym, so shouldn't you be, I don't know, helping?"
"I tried to help the nurse give medication, but she shooed me away!" she said indignantly. Arceus knows why, the doctor thought sarcastically.
"Well look, I need help with some paperwork. Can you handle that?" he asked. Candice puffed out her cheeks, offended, as he moved past her through the door. She halted at the threshold, moving closer to Aries and taking his small hand in hers.
"Hey, kid, don't die, okay?" she whispered. "There were a lot of deaths in Pallet Town the other day; the whole town was completely destroyed, and both people and Pokémon died. Nobody needs any more sadness after all that." When she was sure he wasn't going to wake up at that moment, she pulled away, shutting the door softly as she exited the room.
Mew rose from Aries' side, becoming visible in case he chose that moment to open his eyes. He had very pretty eyes, it knew, but it couldn't remember the exact color since it changed with the lighting. It wished it could see them though, or a twitch in his blistering fingers, or a compressing of the eyebrows. It wished that it could see his human expressions it had grown so used to—his grimace, his frown, his smile, his admiration—but it also knew that it was its fault that he couldn't make them.
It's my fault, it thought dolefully, landing on his chest with an inaudible thump. It had always been a curious Pokémon, evident in the way it snatched humans' unwanted possessions to keep in its world and investigate, but Aries was not an inanimate object—far from it; as Arceus said and it was once again painfully reminded of, Aries was autonomous and was not to be kept like its newest knick-knack. It really shouldn't have taken him into its world on some vague premonition, not when he was rooted to life on Earth. It really should've thought things through, but its impetuousness won out in the end, and now both were paying for it.
As if its touch was venomous it lurched into the air, moving as far away from Aries as possible in the cubical room. Its back hit the only window; it turned and fumbled with the brass lock, forcing it open and pushing the window up. Cold air swished in for the span of two heartbeats before it sped through and slammed it shut, a frozen exhale escaping its lips.
Someone is in a hurry, a familiar, sardonic voice noted. Mew spun and found its not-quite-an-adversary, Mewtwo, checking its hand/paw languidly. Although I would, too, if I realized I was hoarding a human like a pet.
I was not, it protested feebly, halfheartedly.
Yes, yes, Mewtwo said, obviously not believing Mew's farce. Well, I'm just here to offer another bit of advice, out of the goodness of my heart. Mew waited but it remained silent, gazing at the wintry scenery around them.
Is there a punch line to this, Mewtwo?
Oh? Haha! It burst into a fit of laughter, doubling over with its arms clenched around its slender torso. Mew made a joke! How amusing! It laughed for a few moments more before sighing, standing straight and wiping its eye. Well, the "punch line" to this is that Kanto as you know it—and that little playmate of yours?—are both in grave danger.
It took a few moments for that to sink in. What?
My advice is that you make haste to Mahogany Town of the Johto region. Well, that's it. It turned, baring its back to Mew, but before it could protest it disappeared. There was no flash of light or puff of snow; it was just there, then Mew blinked and it was gone.
"Mew?" a weak voice crooned. It was so very weak, yet Mew heard it a thousand times over at over a thousand hertz in its mind—it was Aries' unmistakable voice, lost, bemused, a bit fearful. Its first reaction was to move toward him, then it stopped, remembering the reason why it left in the first place. It trembled in the air as tears built in its eyes, freezing into crystal as they fell to the snow. It couldn't have been more uncertain as it opened a mental link with Palkia.
Palkia? Are you there?
Eh? Mew? You know, Arceus is 'bout ready to chew you to bits.
I know, I know… It was lucky its thoughts didn't sound as sob-filled as its voice. Just… Please open a portal to the Johto region.
Eh? Why should I?
Please…
Palkia perhaps sensed the melancholy and weariness of Mew's voice, because a rip in space appeared directly to its left. It swept in without a second thought—only to fall right into Arceus' clutches. It halted and staggered backwards in the air to no avail; its eyes never left Mew's, its expressionless face somehow appearing furious.
'T'was very cold in Snowpoint, it was, Mew said halfheartedly. Arceus was not amused in the least.
Mew, it sighed. Suddenly it didn't seem so terrifyingly frightening anymore; simply very fatigued, as one who governs all in the universe would be. About the child—
I know what you're going to say, it interrupted, and I already did so, which you should be ecstatic about. I left him in the human's world.
Pardon? Arceus seemed completely taken aback by this revelation.
I thought very hard about what you said—that humans are autonomous and not to be kept as pets—and I realized that however petulant I could act about it, it is the truth; I cannot hold Aries—Aristotle here against his will, not when he has a life with the humans. So I left him.
Arceus regarded it with blank eyes. That is a very wise decision, Mew; however, his memories—
He's young. One thing I am very aware of is that the adult humans will simply shake off whatever tales he holds of these worlds, and even he will soon forget in a few years. Trust me, Arceus.
Arceus looked like it had more to say on the matter, but with one look at Mew's face it relented, raising its head. Very well. You may leave.
Hey, Mew!
Mew squeezed its eyes shut tighter as it squirmed beneath a particularly large pile of old records, hoping to hide, but the effort was fruitless in the face of a fellow Psychic-type. Latios' mental grip was strong and firm as he dragged Mew out and set it atop the bed Aries once slept on; if Mew concentrated enough, it could still smell him.
What is it, Latios? it sighed. Latios faltered in the air, a slightly dismal expression crossing his face.
Why do you say it as if I'm some sort of disease? C'mon, Mew, let's go Junk Hunting! He buzzed around like an angry Beedrill, almost blurring with the mach speeds he could reach. I know a very good spot near Slateport where plenty of human belongings drifted, and I just know you'll love it—
I'm sorry, Latios, but I'm not in the mood.
He halted so fast Mew was almost sad it put a stop to his antics. What? C'mon Mew, you're always in the mood. Wait… He looked around. Where's that little brat—I mean that adorable child you're toting? What happened to him?
His name is Aristotle. Mew's thought came out as a low murmur.
Yeah, him. What happened to him?
I left him in the human world. To stay.
Oh. Oh, wow. Hey, I'm sorry, he said weakly, patting Mew's back. Things happen, you know? But you ever heard that old saying about letting things you love go, and if they come back then it's meant to be?
I'm sorry Latios, but I don't think he'll be returning anytime soon.
Oh, well.
You should leave. Mew said it in a neutral tone, not trying to be suggestive or forceful, but Latios took the hint and zoomed away with a small and uncomfortable smile in its direction. It crawled under the heavy sheets, feeling the aching emptiness of both the dimension and its chest cavity. It had left Aries a year ago in Earth time and failed to check in on him or anything transpiring with the humans. It simply sulked in its dimension, shaking off the well-intentioned attempts of its fellow Legendaries.
Fifty-nine Earth weeks after it left Aries, Mew was attempting to read one of the books Aries favored, The Autonomic System of Ghost-type Pokémon, and finding it horribly drab (it already knew all of its contents; it knew every Pokémon inside and out, literally) just when a shuffling of feet broke through the previously still air. The book fell to the ground in its haste to float up, eyes darting to find the source of the noise.
"You should maybe increase you're awareness, 'Ancient Pokémon' Mew," Mewtwo scorned, reclining in what was once Aries' preferred armchair.
"Mewtwo, how—" Mew clapped its hand over its mouth, realizing that not only had Mewtwo verbally spoken, it had as well, in a high-pitched voice it never knew it had.
"How are we communicating verbally instead of mentally?" it finished. Mew nodded, stunned. "Ah, it's a simple yet complicated trick, but it's quite easy to do now that my power is increasing."
"What—" This time, it didn't stop out of surprise; it stopped because it realized Mewtwo's body had grown, appearing four or five feet to Mew's three, and its aura was more potent than previously.
What, do you prefer this instead? I don't; such a rigid and formal way of communication. I prefer my way, you see.
"I—" Mew halted, then resumed its conversation telepathically. I don't know how or why you're here, but you need to leave now.
"Ha!" Its laugh was ten times worse, ten times more derisive and belittling, when Mew could actually hear it. "Your threats are meaningless to one with greater than or equal to power to yours, though I believe the former will be more accurate in a few hours."
I— Wait, how did you get here? The only way is through Palkia's portals or the hidden emergency entrances in the humans' world…
"Your hidden entrances are not so hidden to a fellow Legendary."
A what?
"A fellow Legendary," it repeated calmly. "Don't tell me you're becoming hard of hearing in your old age."
I heard you quite well; I just cannot wrap my head around it.
"Well, you should, because the truth isn't going anywhere anytime soon."
Where did you come from, Mewtwo?
A very brief, very faint expression of pain contorted its features. "Nowhere consequential, I'll have you know. But I digress; I came here to tell you something… Oh, what was it…"
Mew and Mewtwo knew very well that it hadn't forgotten—expert psychics like them never just forgot something—and that it was just toying with Mew, but it was unwilling to rush its opponent lest it do something unpredictable. It still didn't have any idea of its powers or limits; provoking it would be travelling into the Pyroar's den blinded and bound. Mewtwo, it urged. Mewtwo's eyes flicked to it languidly.
"Oh, yes…" It stood, remaining completely still until Mew caught the hint to lower itself until it was eye-to-eye with its other. "I had a nice little speech jotted down, but oh well. Do you remember the advice I gave you earlier, about Johto? Well, you should really get a jump on it."
Why should I take heed to a single word you say? You are far worse than an unreliable source, Mewtwo; I don't know why I should pay attention to you.
"True, true," it agreed. Then it smiled. "But what else is there to lose when your little pet is already gone?"
He's not—
"Not your pet anymore," it interrupted. "But you know as well as I that you were containing him as if he was one. Now, I recommend that you visit your fellow Legendaries. And before you start rambling, I recommend; you have every right humanly and Pokémon-ly possible to refuse to go, but I'm saying that it is highly recommended that you do, especially since you chose to ignore my earlier suggestion. If I were you, I'd be glad I'm going out of my way to tell you all of this in the first place. I do have better things to do with my life, you know."
I couldn't tell with the way you shamelessly stalk me.
"Stalking, strategically observing, why nitpick?"
I don't nitpick; the law does.
"Human law, you mean," it corrected. "Laws regarding Pokémon are, as they say, an entirely different ballgame. Pokémon are 'worthless little monsters with fractional IQs and have no value outside of serving the purposes their masters demand.' I heard a group of humans say this. They don't pay us any mind at all, so what happens in the Pokémon world, stays in the Pokémon world." It rose and snapped its fingers in Mew's face, startling it with the realization of how close it drew. "Now, are you going? I do have a lot of reading to do here."
The main dimension was in a frenzied state. The Eon duo were arguing about something pettily inconsequential and two of the three birds were squawking and circling high above, random bits of thought barely making it to Mew's mind as Latios and Latias shouted telepathically and the golems made a racket with each slow, agonizing step to the center of the cavernous dimension. It attempted to approach the nearest Legendary, which happened to be Rayquaza, but it was in less of a mood to talk than usual.
I don't want to hear your crap today, Mew, it growled. Not when everything is so chaotic.
Why is it chaotic? But Rayquaza had already turned its attention to Groudon. It sighed, searching for the next nearest—and hopefully friendliest—Legendary Pokémon. To its immediate relief, it spotted Cresselia near the Spirits of the Lake. Cresselia, Mew started, approaching her.
Hello, dear, she greeted, turning to reprimand the others. Mespirit, Azelf, please stop toying with Uxie.
Cresselia, can you please explain to me what in Arceus' name is going on? Mew pleaded breathlessly (figuratively, of course).
Cresselia bowed her head, regarding Mespirit and Azelf as they fluttered around Uxie frozen in meditation before speaking, Are you aware of Team Rocket?
They're Kanto's lords of all underground dealings, correct?
That is accurate, yes. But now they have risen from simple shady actions.
What do you mean?
Uh, yeah, Cresselia, you're really slow to get to the point, Azelf interrupted, dropping down to Mew's level. What she's being so slow to say is they've—
They took our dogs! Mespirit suddenly wailed, a wave of shiny tears flowing from its eyes as it fell to the ground, sobbing. Azelf rolled its eyes.
Far too emotional, it commented. Oh, well, yeah, to put it bluntly, they took our dogs. Entei and Raikou—gone. Poof. Ho-Oh and Lugia found out last night.
Silver was out searching for his "uncle" Suicune, Uxie intoned, its emotionless voice heavily contrasting Mespirit's emotion-filled one and Azelf's sarcastic one, where it found Suicune in its cave mourning a great loss. Upon further investigation, it discovered that Entei and Raikou had been captured by a red-haired Trainer wielding a Typhlosion.
A red-haired Trainer with a Typhlosion? Mew asked.
Do you know of that Trainer? Cresselia said.
I don't know of him, but I have seen him before wandering the Johto region. I tried to read his mind at one point, but his natural resistance is so strong it blindsided me.
Where is Arceus? Shouldn't it be corralling these beasts? Azelf asked, producing a dry-erase marker from its nether regions and scribbling a handlebar moustache onto Uxie's face.
I don't know; it should've been here a while ago, Cresselia murmured worriedly. I hope it's alright.
That's the least of our problems, Latias said, coming up beside Mew. Without Arceus, the Legendaries are even more chaotic than usual. We're never going to get anything accomplished, and every second we waste here Entei and Raikou are in more danger.
Someone has to take charge, Uxie said.
That is correct, Cresselia agreed. But no one here has the gall.
Mew slowly revolved, analyzing each Legendary from each region, and realizing that while many had the gall, none had the skills necessary. Namely, the Pokémon would have to be wise—which it was, after millennia of life—and responsible—which, aside from the Aries incident, it was—and authoritative—which was actually the hardest to accomplish for it, but if it managed against Mewtwo, it could against the rest.
It floated above all of the Legendaries before calling, All attention should be drawn to the sky at this moment!
There were two seconds more of miscellaneous chatter before all became silent. Mew only felt the slightest spike of trepidation as it faced every Legendary Pokémon in existence; they all looked to it patiently, all except Rayquaza and Keldeo, who seemed far more content to make jokes about it in the background. It looked at Cobalion pleadingly; Cobalion latched its jaws onto Keldeo's tail, pulling it away from Rayquaza.
I've just been informed Entei and Raikou were captured, Mew started, evoking another round of chatter from the Legendaries. It waited until they silenced and continued, Our first course of action, of course, is to create a plan to rescue them—
Our first course of action should be storming and obliterating those damn humans! Giratina interrupted. Lugia, Regirock, Registeel, Regice, Groudon, Rayquaza, Palkia, Azelf, Zekrom, Heatran, Terrakion, and Keldeo all shouted in assent.
No; our first priority should be finding where those two are, Latias protested. Ho-Oh, Kyogre, Jirachi, Latios, Mespirit, Uxie, Reshiram, Regigigas, Dialga, and Victini agreed to that.
Latias makes a point; you can't even storm the humans' world until you have a clear idea of where you're going, Mew said. Doing so would just cause pandemonium that we don't need. The biggest question is how we're going to acquire this information.
I can handle that, no sweat, Latios said. It's simple to turn into a human and get information, and I'm fast enough to get the job done in forty-five seconds. Keldeo! Count for me!
I got you! Keldeo replied. It started counting as soon as Latios passed through the portal.
Mew. Mew drifted down to the source of the voice—Suicune. The Aurora Pokémon was sitting away from the other crowding Legendaries, eyes somewhat lugubrious.
Worry not Suicune, we will recover the others—
That is not my concern. Entei and Raikou can handle themselves. Mew looked at it, perplexed. What I am worried about is who captured them.
You know? Why won't you tell the others?
Their teamwork is shoddy, their focus is worse, and, don't take this personally, half of them are incompetent acolytes.
It couldn't have taken it personally, not when it had the same thought several times. Then tell me. Who captured them?
Suicune glanced at the other Legendaries, most still arguing about their methods, before answering, The future heir to Team Rocket, Silver.
Silver? Mew made a mental note to check for him on its next visit to the human world before recalling that it hadn't gone back and most likely won't ever again, not when it was going to be constantly reminded of Aries. It knew that despite being a Psychic-type, willpower was not one of its strengths; if it did go to the human world, it would go searching, and it would most certainly not return alone, which would defeat the purpose of leaving him there in the first place. Though maybe it wouldn't hurt to just look at him, since he was in such a horrible condition last Mew saw. Maybe it should look, just to have one last image of him healthy and happy burned into its mind…
Forty-four! Keldeo suddenly shrieked. Latios chose that moment to reappear, reaching mach speed as it zoomed to the center of Arceus' space, a loud shriek resulting from the shattered sound barrier preceding him that attracted every eye in the dimension. Safe! Keldeo grinned.
The Trainer's name is Silver! he announced, not the least bit out of breath. He's taking Entei and Raikou to Team Rocket's HQ!
A loud cacophony ensued, one Mew had to silence with a series of exploding Shadow Balls. I will be taking three Legendaries to be conspicuous, and those three have to have perfect team chemistry! Whatever Pokémon that cawed and howled chose to go silent at that. Mew scanned all of their minds, just skimming the superficial information before hitting the brick wall they all had to protect their thoughts. Luckily, just that information was enough. Celebi! Victini! Suicune! Let's make haste!
Suicune took its time getting to its feet as Celebi and Victini cheered, careful to avoid touching lest Victini set Celebi on fire or supercharge it with its infinite energy. Mew fluttered around the dimension before finding the portal to Johto in a small orange star. Come on! it yelled. Celebi was first, flying faster than it appeared to have been capable of and disappearing into the portal with a rain of white sparkles. Victini was second and Suicune was third, pausing a moment to send Mew a sympathetic look.
I'm fine, it said, though it sounded feeble to itself.
The heart is a very delicate thing, was all it said before it passed through. Mew couldn't help the scowl that twisted its face as it followed.
